Localized applicator for cooling body temperatures



Aug. 16, 1955 G. A. GIARDINI LOCALIZED APPLICATOR FOR COOLING BODYTEMPERATURES Filed June 11, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Aug. 16, 1955 G. A.GIARDINI 2,715,315

LOCALIZED APPLICATOR FOR COOLING BODY TEMPERATURES Filed June 11, 1954 2Sheets-Sheet '2 United States Patent LOCALIZED APPLICATOR FGR COOLINGBODY TEMPERATURES Gino A. Giardini, Chicago, 111.

Application June 11, 1954, Serial No. 436,162

4 Claims. (Cl. 62-1) This device relates to a device for applying acoolant to localized portions of the human body. More particularly, theinvention comprises a container within which may be positioned asuitable coolant, such as solid carbon dioxide, more commonly known asDry Ice, or some similar cooling device. Specifically, the applicator isadapted for applying the coolant to localized portions of the body foreither lowering the body temperature and preventing the ill effectswhich might otherwise accompany the same, or for therapeutic purposes inthe case of sweliings and the like.

The application of coolants such as ice or cold Water to the human bodyfor the prevention of heat prostration or for therapeutic purposes inthe case of excessive body fever or swellings or other such bodyinjuries, is well known. Heretofore such applications necessitated theuse of ice packs or the like. However, ice packs are usually cumbersome,damp and messy, and for many other reasons, are not always suitable.

It is also well known that certain portions of the body, particularlythose portions in which the blood vessels are positioned close to thesurface, respond readily to coolants and effectively cool the bodytemperatures when so applied. For example, the application of coolantsto the wrists or to the temples, is often prescribed in the case of heatprostration. The reason, of course, is the fact that at these points inthe body, major blood vessels lie close to the surface.

It is therefore an important object of my invention to provide apractical coolant applicator which may eifectively apply a highlydesirable coolant to these parts of the body as well as other parts forthe purpose of lowering the body temperature.

According to my invention, I provide a light-weight plastic receptaclein which may be positioned a coolant such as Dry Ice, which sublimespassing directly from the solid phase to the gaseous phase at such lowtemperatures that no liquid by-products result therefrom. The inventionis further provided with suitable insulating means to preventexcessively rapid cooling of the portions of the body or skin to whichthe applicator is applied. My device is further designed so that it maybe used effectively wherever necessary, including such body members asthe wrist, eyes, forehead, nape of neck, or any other body areas where acoolant ordinarily may be effectively utilized.

1 further provide a Dry-Ice pellet so designed and packaged that it maybe handled and transported with minimum inconvenience and maximumutility.

A further object of the invention is to provide elfective means withinthe container itself to maintain the coolant in the most effectiveposition with respect to the skin or body portions.

Still another object is to afford an applicator device of non-metallicconstruction so as to minimize the danger from excessive cooling whichwould otherwise result in burns.

2,7 15,315 Patented Aug. 16, 1955 ice Yet a further object is to providea coolant applicator which may be worn on the body without excessivelyinterfering with the actions or movements of the wearer.

Still a further object is to afford a coolant applicator of simple,inexpensive construction, yet attractive and most effective inperforming the functions intended.

With the foregoing and other objects in view which will appear as thedescription proceeds, the invention consists of certain novel featuresof construction, arrangement and a combination of parts hereinafterfully described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, andparticularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understoodthat various changes in the form, proportion, size and minor details ofthe structure may be made without departing from the spirit orsacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

For the purpose of facilitating an understanding of my invention, I haveillustrated in the accompanying drawings a preferred embodiment thereof,from an inspection of which, when considered in connection with thefollow ing description, my invention, its mode of construction, assemblyand operation, and many of its advantages should be readily understoodand appreciated.

Referring to the drawings in which the same characters of reference areemployed to indicate corresponding or similar parts throughout theseveral figures of the drawmgs:

Fig. l is a perspective view of the hand, wrist and arm portion of ahuman being with my applicator operationally positioned thereon;

Fig 2 is an exploded view of the applicator showing the various membersthereof including the pellet of Dry Ice;

Fig. 3 is an enlarged sectional view taken on the plane of line 33 ofFig. 5 of the drawings and viewed in the direction indicated;

Fig. 4 is a top plan view of the applicator with portions broken away tobetter illustrate the inside construction;

Fig. 5 is a transverse sectional view taken on the plane of line 5-5 inFig. 3 of the drawings and viewed in the direction indicated; and

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the assembled applicator with the DryIce pellet contained therein.

Turning now to the several figures of the drawings, reference numeral 10indicates generally the applicator which comprises an outer plasticshell 12, preferably of a fairly stiff construction. This shell may beof any suitable shape but in the embodiment chosen for illustration, issemi-circular with an arcuate wall 14 and fiat side wall members 16 and18. Both ends of the arcuate wall project upwardly at the top to affordsegments 20 and 22 within which may be formed slots such as 24 and 26.The flat sides 12 and 14 project upwardly above the mouth of the case 12thereby providing flaps such as 28 and 39. These flaps are adapted tofold over, thereby covering the open mouth of the case.

The slots are adapted to accommodate therein the ends 32 and 34 ofstraps 36 and 38. The ends 32 and 34 may be enlarged or folded over toprevent their being unintentionally or accidentally removed from theslots. The opposite ends of the straps 36 and 38 may be perforated orformed with suitable fastening devices such as shown as 40 in Figs. 3and 6 of the drawings. These straps may be made of any suitable materialand of any desired lengths so that they may be conveniently positionedto hold the device in position on any desired portion of the body.

To properly insulate the coolant from the body, a liner such as 42 ispositioned within the outer casing 12 and may be permanently afiixed asby a layer of cement 44 within the casing 12. This liner may be made ofrubber or rubberized cloth and is of essentially the same shape butslightly smaller size thanthe outer casing 12. It may be provided with aplurality of flaps such as 46, 48, 50 and 52, which are designed to foldover the closed mouth of the liner. The liner is further provided witha-rubber band 54 which is fastened at its ends to the arcuate'wallportion .56 of the liner 42, so that it is suspended between the uppersides of the arcuate wall 56 depending thereinbut spaced from the bottomof the liner, essentially as shown in Fig. 3 of the drawings. Thepurposeof this rubber band will become apparent as..the. description proceeds.7

.Within the liner 42 maybe positioned the coolant pellet 58which isshaped so that it may be readily inserted the liner. This pellet may bewrapped in a suitable wrapper such as the paper wrapper 60 illustratedin Fig. 2 of the drawings. This wrapping not only retardsthe'sublimation of the carbon dioxide, but, moreover, serves as aninsulator, thereby enabling the convenient handling of the pellet.

In operation, after the pellet is positioned within the container sothat it abuts the rubber band 54 within the liner 42; the flaps 46, 48,59 and 52 are then folded over the top of the pellet and the outercasing flaps 28 and 30 are likewise folded thereover. This, of course,isaccomplished against the contracting tendency of the elastic rubberband 54 to return from its stretched position to its unstretchedposition. Thus the stretched rubber band tends to keep the pellet in itsmost effective position, namely against the flaps and thereby againstthe body portion of the wearer. Hence, despite the reduction in size ofthe pellet as it sublimes, it nevertheless at all times, is kept in itsmost effective and proximate position to the body of the wearer by theelastic band 54.

After the pellet has been properly positioned and insulated within thevarious folds or flaps of the device,.it ispositioned properly and thebands 36 and 38 are positioned to encircle thearm or head or othermember of the body so that it is able to perform the cooling functionsintended.

It' should further be noted that although the device has been especiallydesigned for use in connection with a coolant such as solid carbondioxide, other coolants may be'utilized therein, including ice and evenrefrigerated metal pellets. It has been found that pre-cooled aluminumpellets are most effective and when properly positioned and insulatedwithin the applicator, serve admirably in lowering the body temperature.

' It will be apparent from the foregoing description that I haveprovided a most economical but effective device for applying coolants tostrategic portions of the human body to cool the blood and thereby lowerthe body temperatures when necessary. This may be effectively utilizedfor preventing heat prostration and for treating prostration once it hasoccurred. It may also be efiectively utilized in cases' where excessivebody 'fever is present. Likewise, it may be used therapeutically in thecase of swellings and other body injuries. The device is so constructedthat it minimizes, if not entirely eliminates, the danger of injury tothe wearer by burns caused by excessive cooling when sharp coolants suchas Dry Ice are employed. It is light in weight and provided with meansfor effectively mounting the applicator on any desired portion of thebody and maintaining the same in position without interfering withnormal body movements.

It is believed that my invention, its mode of constructions andassembly, and many of its advantages should be readily understood fromthe foregoing without further description, and it should also bemanifest that while a preferred embodiment of the invention has beenshown.

a localized portion of the human body, said first mentioned meanscomprising an elastic band suspended within said receptacle between apair of opposed walls thereof, said elastic band positioned to bearagainst the outer surface of the pellet of coolant.

2. In a coolant applicator of the character described,

an insulated receptacle with foldable flaps adapted to accommodatetherein a pellet of coolant, means for maintaining said pellet in itsmost effective cooling position on a portion of the human body, andadjustable means for maintaining said applicator on a localized portionof the human body, said receptacle comprising an outer.

shell of stiff material having an open mouth providing ingress means forthe pellet, said receptacle defined by. a

plurality of unitarily formed walls, the free edges of said,

walls comprising foldable flaps, a complementary-shaped liner offlexible heat-insulating material adhered within said outer shell,

3. A device for cooling the human body comprising a light-weightcontainer; said container comprising a plastic outer shell defined by anarcuate wall and two integrally formed side walls, the upper edges ofsaid side walls extending beyond the edges of said arcuate wall toprovide cover flaps,.straps aflixed to said outenshell, fastening meansprovided on said straps and heat insulating means positioned within saidouter shell said heat insulating means comprising an integrally-formedcomplementary-shaped flexible rubber liner, said linerhaving a pluralityof flaps adapted to fold over for closing the mouthof said container andan elastic band suspended between apair of opposed walls of said liner,said elastic. band adapted to bear against the outer. surface ofapellet.

of coolant to force the same toward said cover flaps thereby maintainingsaid .pellet of coolant in close proximityto the body of'the wearer.

4. A light weight coolant applicator comprising a plastic outer shelldefined by an arcuate wall and two integrally-formed side walls, theupper edges of said side walls extending beyond the edgesof said arcuatewall to provide cover flaps, straps aifixed to' said outer shell,fastening means provided on said straps and heat insulating;meanspositioned within said outer shell, said heat insulating meanscomprising an integrally-formed complementary-shaped flexible rubberliner, said liner having a plurality of flaps adapted to fold over forclosing the mouth of said container and an elastic band suspendedbetween a pair of opposed walls within said liner, said elastic bandadapted to contract against the outer surface of said coolant therebymaintaining the same in close proximity to the body of the wearer.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATESiPATENTS954,374 Broadwin Apr. 5, 1910 2,087,181 Conway July 13, 1937 2,288,745Sammis July 7, 1942 2,563,933

Hipps et al Aug. 14, 1951 .wrzws I

